[Draft I] Mage's Guild

[Erenthril Mael'tharias]

Alright…here’s my alleged first draft. The actual Guild hasn’t been RPed extensively since borderline 2002, from what my research suggests. The most useful information or source was Tarot’s own attempts to resurrect them, as well as Lachdanan’s thread with CW. I’m hoping with this guide to the faction it will hopefully tempt some GMs to implement them more prolifically in their cities. Let me know what you think! The History and Charter sections still need some help…ideas are more than welcomed!
-Brandon

Mage’s Guild Abstract Guild of Mages The official guild of practitioners of the Arcane Arts, the Mages’ Guild has headquarters in Aelyria Prime, catering to mages of all disciplines who seek a forum to exchange thoughts and ideas. As the most respectful and honored guild of its class, the Mages’ Guild has high standards for membership and an equally high fee. (-per Juan) Overview At the pinnacle of its power, the Mage’s Guild was nothing short of the Arcanic strong-arm of the Emperor across the range of the Empire. These gem blooded individuals were not only exceptionally rare, like most Magi, but the cream of the crop – the most brilliant and gifted creative souls magic had to offer, and as such were treated akin to royalty across the land. However, as time would have it, and as the pages of antiquity turned, the Guild soon fell from prominence by none other than one of their very own members himself: Julos the Mad. As the Rakrya took root within the Empire and Arcana became something to be feared instead of admired, the Mage’s Guild quickly fell off its high pedestal. Many of its own members converted to Julos’ cause, and what centuries of hard ethos and endurance had wrought quickly became dismantled in the change of a night. History From before the shattering of the Aethergem to the time the Ancient Allerians, Arcana has always been an important facet of life upon Telath. The select few whom managed to harness it took it gleefully at the tip of a wand and the pages of a book. Ideas forthcoming…suggestions welcomed. Structure The majority of the Mage Guild rests within two categorical entities: Junior membership and Senior membership. Placement into these tiers is determined mostly by the level of proficiency of the mage; Initiates, Apprentices, and most Journeymen fall into the Junior membership crowd, whereas the Senior membership is comprised of most academic Masters and the ever rare Archmagus. Each tier has its own set of benefits, with the Senior membership’s benefits encompassing the Junior membership’s. Transition between the Junior and Senior tiers is commonplace, though determined by a thorough and comprehensive exam meant to test the mage’s creativity and ingenuity with their particular sphere. It is believed that at any given time the ratio of Junior members to Senior members is 4:1, scattered throughout the Empire. Worthy of note is the governing body of the Mage’s Guild, atypically known as the Maguili. The Maguili is an esteemed upper echelon of the Senior Membership whom have proven their determinedness and sobriety in bettering Arcana within the Empire. They are atypically comprised of the most stolid and knowledgeable members within each sphere excluding Necromancy, as well as representatives of the Junior and Senior tiers, respectively. The Maguili is responsible for the direction of the Mage’s Guild, upholding their obligation of directing its ethos and political stance upon a broad range of issues concerning as many things as the recommended spell lists for Initiate students within academia to the political stance of the Guild on the usage of Arcana for intentional harm. The Maguili are directly responsible for the actions of the Guild on a whole, and as such confer twice an era to discuss the Guild’s progress. Each member of the Maguili, while retaining a wealth of information on their own sphere, also assists the Guild in their own particular ways. Some oversee the entrance exams given out to interested members, others are in charge of litigation and punishment of existing Magi, and others still are responsible for reporting to the Imperial Magus, or holding seats in the House of Representatives and ‘suggesting’ viewpoints and agendas the Mage Guild is responsible for. Charter & Ethos The Mage’s Guild firmly holds all of its members responsible to the following charter and ethos. Refusal to uphold the Guild’s beliefs are grounds for dismissal and dishonorable ostracism. To The Progression of Society Everywhere; May Our Knowledge Know No Bounds Need Ideas Here Joining the Mage’s Guild Finding out about the Mage’s Guild entrance exams and their locations and dates are almost as difficult as gaining admittance. Historically, the Mage’s Guild administered tests to interested and perceivably ‘creative’ applicants twice an era, at the beginning of Spring and the beginning of Fall. However, after having fallen out of grace during Julos’ reign, the tests have become much more secretive, and more difficult to inquire knowledge of. It is rumored that, although rather dysfunctional and allegedly disbanded, the Mage’s Guild still hosts an entrance exam through a close network of aliases that is almost entirely exclusive to those bright magi whom have caught the Guild’s eye or have stand out monumentally in their field of study. Atypically, the exam used to be administered in three ways: written, oral, and practical exams. The groups would be siphoned off into small cells containing only eight to ten potential applicants which would then be tested individually by a Senior member under the oversight of one of the Maguili. The Mage’s Guild is perceived elitist, and only takes the best and the brightest of each class of applicants every two seasons. That being said, every applicant is sworn to secrecy before the tests are administered, with severe repercussions for disclosing information upon the test. Those accepted are welcomed into the Guild, while those not are turned away and shunned, with the opportunity to try again once two more seasons have past. Rarely, however, does any individual fail to gain membership and then succeeds on a latter try; the Mage’s Guild views initial failure as a perceived flaw in intelligence, and generally disapproves of admitting those whom failed originally. Any applicant of any sphere save for Necromancy is welcomed, should the talent be preexisting to the exam. However, Hedgemagi are generally shunned from admittance, given the elitist viewpoint of their rather ‘limited’ potential. Insignia The insignia of the Mage Guild is two twin serpentine dragon heads intertwined behind the glowing depiction of the Aethergem. Each insignia contains a mystic’s enchantment that is continuously activated to give the illustration a vivid allure. For instance, most insignias illustrate each dragon breathing out a constant trickle of fire or ice, while the aethergem itself pulses with a brilliant gold. Typically worn in the visage of a pin or a badge, these insignias are recognized Empire-wide and as such have gained as much popularity and fame as the Magi themselves. Known Benefits The benefits of the Mage’s Guild are separated into two categories, due primarily to the separation of Junior and Senior membership. Exceptions, although rare, are sometimes allowed for trusted individuals working specifically under the Guild’s discretion; such as the Junior Membership representative on the Maguili. It should be noted that the Senior Membership entails all the benefits of the Junior Membership. Junior: - Free lodging at any Mage’s Guild safehouse across the Empire -Unlimited access to basic research material and library usage -Access to personal Guild seminars discussing Arcanic theory -Various job opportunities and pay within the Guild or through Guild connections -Guild sponsored promotions and educational courses per proficiency determined by Senior Members -The discounted purchase of magical imbuements Senior: -Access to rare or forbidden research within possession of the Mage’s Guild or its affiliates -The publication of research sanctified by the Mage’s Guild -Political appointments and positions at the discretion and review of the Maguili -Academic opportunities to teach and instruct students empire-wide at the discretion and review of the Maguili -The discounted purchase of magical enchantments Locales Although the Mage’s Guild’s Headquarters is located within the Student Quarter of Alleria Prime, there are several notable branches and adjoining Universities that have received the prestigious blessings and sanctity of the Guild itself and as such are considered to be held in the highest of esteem: Stormhaven Academy – Primarily renown for Elementalism, the Stormhaven University in Port Alyxandrya is the definitive example of a prime, top of the line Arcana university and as such is a large pool for potential applicants into the Mage’s Guild. The Rainbow Towers – Considered one of the most noteworthy Arcanical Research Academies in the Empire, the Rainbow Towers in Nexus Prime has almost always boasted a resident Archmagus and is responsible for a good deal of training and referral of the Guild’s members. Brightshadow’s Academy – Located in Daltina, this premier training ground for bright young Sorcerers has long since been a favorite of the Mage’s Guild and a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere for its scholarly pursuits. The Druids Copse of Mystique – Few places can attract the Mage’s Guild’s eye as much as Mystique has. Seated in the back yard of the de Lylles and situated neatly on a hotspot of arcanic history, the Druids Copse of Mystique makes for a comfortable sojourn into nature’s embrace and a more in-tune diversion into telath’s more natural arcane.

[Xyltha Thanole]

W00t glad to have someone breathe new life into the Mage's Guild. I remembered trying to find more information on them ages ago, when I wanted to join. Well, appears my wait is over. Good work Eren, can't wait to join your glee club.

[Gossamer]

I'd like to see more of their goals.... there's nothing really to draw me to this guild as it is. Free lodging? Access to their libraries? This is a great start, but I feel like there needs to be a whole lot more. Entrance should be by invitation only, and rather than a university entrance type series of test, there really should be a quest type test involved so that mages add to the overall lore and skill of the group. I'd hate to see just any old boring mage let in. The mages that get in should be unique and add a new element to the organization.

I guess... this seems rather... plain. Does that makes sense Brandon? You've got a good core, now lets jazz it up a bit and make it more Aelyrian and less.... run of the mill guild. Benefits should match what it takes to get in.... and so far I'm not seeing it. This should be something fantastical, something everyone wants to be a part of, something rumored about...

Think Skull and Crossbones but better.

[Erenthril Mael'tharias]

There already is a Skull and Crossbones guild of PCs. Ironic you mentioned it.

As per their goals...well, they're disbanded. Dysfunctional. I meant to touch more on what I wrote in the Overview in the History section; so I'll make sure I do that when I write it up. You see, it makes absolutely no sense IC for such a hotshot guild like this to have done absolutely nothing for the past 4 RL years. It's kind of sad it slipped to that, really. So I figured having it be a little haphazard at the moment wouldn't hurt. Their goals are secretive. They're progressing Arcana. We have a few PCs who've touched the very tip of the iceberg on what Arcana can do, so I figured that was a reasonable start. Like last time, a bunch of the mods will probably want this to be more PC-involved rather than NPC-involved. So a lot of the fleshing out will have to take place IC.

I was contemplating the entrance by invitation-only bit. I think i really might run with that, despite what Tarot/other people said in his last attempt to get this off the ground. Really, what I was aiming to do was stick with the current theme of progression rather than diverge off the path entirely. I think I'll add a little more of my own spice to it then, if it's not alluring enough.

[Z'kron]

I like the writeup. Perhaps some more information about subfactions and chapters within the guild? With specific entrance requirements and such.

I kinda disagree with the quest for entrance that Goss suggests; I would like entrance to the lower levels of the mage's guild to be not-so difficult, which would not hold them up for months in the case a moderator vanishes. It's just as easy to administer such quests/tests as a low-ranked fledgling guild member.. and for an organisation which allows initiates in, I'm not sure how "exclusive" it would naturally seem to be.

[Marwin Luminarias]

I'm somewhere between Z'kron and Goss.

I like testing for entrance, but I don't see the guild testing 'proven' Journeyman; and Masters and Archmages? Not even a question. I see this guild as a 'reserach / brain-drain' FIRST, but really they're a bunch of power-hungry mages who want to get their hands on as many magical allies as they can.

*high fives* great first draft, Eren

[Tarot]

For the record, my attempt at reviving the Mage's Guild was a whimsical idea I got one evening and posted pretty much right away. It simply represents a hastily written summary of how my PC might have gone about it, had he been resurrecting it; you shouldn't feel bound to those ideas in any way.

As long as the guild is about elitism, coolness and genius, I'm fine with basically anything you can think of. Invitation could be one way of making sure a mage has done something worthy of note before they can enter. Maybe invitation+test (quest) could work too. I suppose they could hire even lower-ranked mages if they feel someone is a genius in the making and will quickly climb the ranks. As the guild is highly competitive, members that don't live up to the expectations would likely be booted rather quickly. Conversely, being an Archmage is no guarantee of admission - just look at controversial RL scientists saluted as geniuses by some and ridiculed by others.

As for benefits, I think you may need to come up with something that nobody else has. Not a license to kill, but something almost as useful. Problem is, anything giving them more rights than the ordinary citizens would have to go through Milo, since it's not already established. Mostly though, someone's prestige as a mage would go up enormously upon joining the Guild. It is likely that he could charge much much more for his services with that pin on his robes.

[Erenthril Mael'tharias]

Right-o Marwin, I'll incorporate that into the write-up. What do you think about a Charter? You're pretty familiar with Arcana PCs...what sounds reasonable for an upper-echelon "higher order" type of thing.

Tarot, I agree with you completely. Arcanic/diplomatic immunity or something fun. I'll take a peek into how Foreign Policy Spies/CIA sort of thing works and see if I can't maybe bedazzle some of that in there. We'll see about setting something up IC for approval once this is all set in stone.

Another version of the draft will go up in the weekend!

[Saka Rosedl]

Hrm I like the idea of the guild being alive, as for now my only questions) are how people can find it and what are the costs if it is crowns or another payment of choice.

But then again what is the difference from this to schools getting together every few eras?

[Erenthril Mael'tharias]

People will probably be able to sign up at any of the major universities i listed above. As for costs...I hadn't thought of that, but I guess membership wouldn't necessary be cost-expensive if they're looking for sheer talent.

I'll be working on the benefits pretty soon to make them more alluring to players.

[Atl Myrsa]

I like this. Atl feels that the guild would be good to reintroduce and would be up to being approached about getting it legal again.

Either way. I agree that we need some elitism, but sometimes maybe invites as such to get people in.